-Stairway to Hell (not a heavy metal hit)

This is the second critical escalator accident involving a young child at Kings Plaza in less than a year. Today's accident comes as no surprise to residents and mall employees.  Mall management had no comment but authorities suggested that the child may have had a seizure. The escalators in the mall area and Sears are relatively new. They also have a lower profile than the original.  The last accident on the malls escalators which occurred last winter nearly severed a child's hand as the rubber grip had too much play in it and pulled the hand into it between the metal rail and the rubber itself. The child was rescued by N.Y.F.D. rescue workers and taken to a local hospital.
 

Today, Malcolm Lawrence, a 9 year old boy fell three levels to his death. Despite claims that he may have suffered a seizure which caused him to lose balance, the escalators and adjoining walls should have been designed with safety in mind. This child was incapable of lifting himself over the railing (he wasn't an acrobat) and authorities are seeking answers. They want to know if the child was under adult supervision. 

The escalator was sited for numerous violations but a follow up inspection was never made. It is possible that the escalator may have still been dangerous. Also a possibility, the child did have a seizure. Medical exams may reveal that but at the same time, it is possible that his shirt or sleeve could have caught in the moving railing and while the material was being pulled in, it pulled him up and over. He could have had the seizure and started shaking because of the fear and the shock of getting caught in the rail.

 Many have experienced their sneaker toes getting caught in the corner of escalator stairs. There is an enormous pulling force that occurs and the shoe wedges in deeper. Some are lucky and are able to pull free. And then there are those who can subtract a toe. Referring to the girl who's hand was drawn into the rubber handrail against the metal guide, it is safe to say that history repeats itself and this is what the poor boy probably experienced. The shirt being drawn into the rail could have constricted his throat preventing him from screaming and at its tightest point, flipped him over the rail. It only takes a second...

The walls that were part of the escalators in Alexander's were removed when Sears renovated, exposing the lower levels giving the store the illusion of being larger.  Illusion is a key word when it comes to Kings Plaza. While working on appearance the architects and design teams failed to meet the needs of the public. Failure to incorporate safety into the design is likely to be the cause of this child's death. Public officials who's job it is to review job plans should have detected a dangerous condition prior to the actual renovation especially when children are involved in the concept. Children go to malls. Why weren't there Plexiglass shields along the rails edge?  It's possible to incorporate safety along with aesthetics...it really is....!!!

Deaths to Date at Kings Plaza: 1 to many

Update : Immediately following this incident, the New York City Department of Buildings has posted an ad in the Help Wanteds for Technical Director of Central Inspections. Responsibilities include planning, directing, and administering inspections of elevators and escalators, assuring adherence to citywide procedures and practices.